Automatic coin-operated machine



192 March 15 7 e. R. BARR AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12.1922 4 sheets-sheet 1 1,621 230 I March 15 9 G. R. BARR AUTOMATIC COINOPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1'621230' March 151927. I 6' R. BARR 1 AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12. 19224 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 7 49 74 i 2 g 73 n: n 70 2 47 v 62 '46 5o l l I 6| 3?34 67 1927. March 15 I G R BARR AUTOMATIC Com OPERATED umcawa 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 12, 1922 lw/ernbr Ear! Patented Mar, 15, 1927.

UNITED :STATES 1,621,230; PATENT OF'FIC enonen mcnenn Benn, or HACKNEY,noNnoN, mtoLAiin.

AUTOMATIC COIN-OBERATED MACHINE.

Application filed August 12, 1922, Serial No. 581,403, and in GreatBritain Novemper 22, 1921.

' My invention relates to an automatic machine for playing a game,representingfootball or the like, and comprises a construction of thekindfhavinga series of figures distributed over-a field or playingground at each end of which 'is provided a goal, the figures beingassociated with operating levers through which a ball is impelled overthe playing surface toward one or other of the goals. Coin-releasedmechanism is usually provided to enable a ball to be released to beplayed with, and mechanism is arranged to return a coin if the ball isprojected into either goal. In the apparatus hitherto proposed, howevera single coin is employed which forms part of a train of gearing, theoperation of which enables a ball to be delivered at the centre of theplaying surface. In a cricket game apparatus it has also been proposedto release the mechanism by the insertion of two Separate coins into' asingle coin chute one of said coins beingreturned at the end ofthe gameand the other retained.

According to this invention I construct my machine of'a suitable frame,having an upper surface which acts as the playing ground upon which thegame ,is placed and 1 upon which a-series of figures are mounted in'suitable positions tov formv two opposing teams substantially as in agame of football or the like. Thesefiguresare-arranged in groups torepresent forwards, half-backs,

backs and a goal keeper for each side, or any other suitablearrangement] Each figure is provided with a movable limb, such as oneleg which is pivoted and'adapted to be op-'. erated to impelor kicktheball toward theoppositeend of the field, with the object of sendingit-into the 'opponents. goal. Each group of figures isjconnected to anoperating lever of which a series are provided upon the outside of themachine and adapted to be actuated by each of the two competitors play-I ing the game. Each lever is mounted upon the end of a transversepivoted rod so as to move the limb or leg of. the figures when, it isturned about its axis. v

' Each figure is mounted in a depression'in the field'sothat the ballwill roll down to theffeet of one of the players ready to be impelledtoward the opposite goal when the foot of that figure is actuated. Thegoal at each end-is formed-witha sloping surface leading to a holethrough which the ball passeswhen a goal is scored. Both :these holeslead to a common channel alongwhich the ball rolls and down a chute tothe bottom of a column of balls ready to be again mechanism to allow theuppermost of a column of balls to be passed out through a suitableaperture into ',the centre of the field. The other coin is held in-aposition ready to bereleased when a goal is scored, and the competitorwhoscores the goal will receive the returned coin.

One of the coins inserted into the machine is adapted to releasemechanism which enables one of a series of balls arranged in a pile tobe delivered onto the playing surface, and when a goal is scored 'byeither player, the ball is returned through a chute to the bottom of thepile, and means are providedin the path of the returning. ball tooperate mechanism which will release the other coin and deliver the sameto the person scoring the goal.

In'order that my invention may be readily understood, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings which show by way of example a constructionof the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus- Figure 2 is a plan viewof the field or playing'surface. Y

Figure 3 is a. view to an enlarged'scale showing one of the layers andthe mechanism. for operating t e same for manipulatingthe ball over theplaying surface.

Figures 4 and 5 are planview and underplan respectively of one of theshutter like members with which the playing figures are associated.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken immediately below the playlngsurface. 7 W

Figure 7 is avertical section on the line A-B of Fig. 6. v Figure 8 is adetail View of the'releasing pawl for enabling one of the balls. to bede'-' livered onto the playing surface.

Figure 9 is a sectional ,vifiw to a larger shown to a larger scale.

The apparatus illustrated in thedrawings the parts being shows theapplication of the invention to a football game and comprisesa casing?15 of ers. At each end of the field is a goal 17 hereinafter referredto. i

In the construction shown in the drawings, the pivotal shutters 18 areof rectangular shape, and the figures 19 representing the players arerigidly fixed to the playing surface, and preferably in such a mannerthat they are suported by one leg 20 on a portion of the stationaryplaying surface, whilst the opposite leg 21 is pivoted to the body ofthe figure. The shutter like devices 18 are each a loose fit in thecorresponding recesses 18 formed in the playing surface, I

surface at a point located at the centre there-' of. The mechanism forfeeding the ball so as to ensure free movement thereof. Preferably theshutters 18. are pivoted along one of their longitudinal sides, that isthe side opposite to that adjacent which the playing figures 19 arefixed so that during the1r movement, the pivotal legs of the playingfigures are moved to imitate as far as possible the movement of a playerkicking a ball. The shutters 18 are preferably provided with a weightedunder surface 22 to' ensure their returning to the normal posi tion. a

.The playing surface is formed with an irregular up er surface, that isto say the ortions of t e playing surface surroun ing each of therecesses. in which the shutters are located and around the mouth of thegoals, is dished or inclined towards the edges of said recesses, so thatthe ball has a natural tendency to roll onto the shutters when beingplayed. This is clearly shownin Figures 1 and 3.

Beneath each of the recesses 18*} for the 'shutters is a supportingbracket 23,011 which is pivotally mounted a two armed lever 24,

' one arm of said lever engaging the undersurface of the weightedportlon of the shutter whilst the opposite arm is connected by a r0d '25to an arm 26 rigidly fixed to one of a series of horizontal rods 27.extending across the casing 15 from the front. wall towards the rearwall. These rods or shafts 27 are located at s aced intervals apart andare provided at t eir forward ends which extend through the front wallof the casing 15, with operating handles or thumb pieces 28 which enablethe same to be oscilla'ted 'in their bearings. I prefer to provide threesuch rods or shafts 27 for each team, that is six in all and two of theshafts of each team whilst the remaining shaft controls three playingfigures. It will thus be seen that by rotating the shafts 27 by means ofthe thumb pieces 28, the shutters are lifted, and in so doing the ballfor the time being resting upon a shutter is flicked or impelled overthe playing surface and may come to rest on any of the other shutters,and each player has to exercise his skill in manipulating the shafts 27in such amanner that the ball is impelled towards and into the goalmouth of the opposing player. The movement of the shutters 18 in anupward direction is caused by the rotation of the shafts 27 in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, and in so moving, theupper surface of the shutters come into contact withfthe. free end ofthe pivotal leg of the playing. figures and move the same in a veryrealistic manner and the movement of the movable legs of the playingfigures assists to a certain extent in the flicking of the ball over theplayonto the playing surface comprises a vertically disposed tubularchute 30, twoop'positely disposed walls of which are slidable withrelation to the remaining walls. The chute is preferably rectangular inshape and the stationary walls are adapted to form guides for themovable walls. One or both of the movable walls of the chute is providedwith a gravity or spring operated trigger or the like 41 located nearthe base of the chute. Within the chute are arranged a series of' ballssuperimposed upon one another, and beneath the pile of balls is aplatform 32 which is adapted to be raised by means of a rod 33 pivotallyconnected at itslower end 34 to the platform 32 and connected at itsupper end to apin 35 car'- ried-by a disc 36 fixed to a rotatable shaft"37 extending transversely from front to back of the casing 15. Theforwardiend of theshaft 37 carries a knob or button 38 to enable thesame to be rotated, and the said shaft is preferablylocated centrallybeneath the playing surface 17. 53 is a rod or link the lower -end ofwhich is pivoted to the movable or slidable sides of theball chutewhilst its upper'end is provided with a 1011- gitudinal slot engaging'thepin 35 on the disc 36. By this means when the shaft- 37 is r0- tatedby the knob '38, the disc carrying the in 35 rotates and raises the rod33 and with it the latform 32 with a ball resting 'thereon. During thepreliminary upwardmove- 'ment of the platform 32, the verticallyslidable walls of the; ball chute remainstatio'nary and when the ballresting on the platform 32 reaches a height to be engaged by the pivotaltrigger 41 the pin on the disc 36 engages the upper end of the slotinthe link i 53 and during the further rotation of thesha-ft 37, thelink 53'is also, raised and carries with it the columnfof balls, and theheight through which this column of balls is raised is equal toor'sliEhtly greater than the 1 diameterof one of the alls. By thismeans,

' theuppermost ball of the pile is raised to such a position that it isable to rollonto the into one of. the goals andthence through the chutesnow about to be descr bed.

playing surface. When the column of balls is again lowered, thetriggerll supports the column of balls and theplatform 32 returns to itslowermost" sition ready to receive the ball previously e'livered "ontothe playing surface, after the same has been mpelled Within each of thegoals .17 is anaperture 42 leading to a chute 43,- and each of thechutes 43 extends towards the centre and beneath the playing surface andcommunicates with a common chute or passageway 44 (Flgs. 2 and 7 Thelower end of the chute 44 is provided with a lateral extension 45leading to the bottom of the tubular member which -is suitably aperturedfor that purpose, and when the ball is impelled into either goal, itrolls into the aperture 42 along the corresponding chutes 43, 44 and and ultimatelv comes" to rest on the platform 32,

i the column of balls injthe tubular member-"3O being supported by thetrigger or the like 41, so that when the column of balls isagain raised.by the platform 32, the ball last de-f livered through thereturn'chutes 43, 44 and '45 is raised and becomes the lowermost of thecolumn of balls.

Towards the lower end of the chute 44-folthe return balls is a pivotalweighted lever 46 which is adapted to be rotated about its pivo't'by theassage of a ball through said chute, and this lever operates through a acoin releasing pin hereafter de scribed.

Located within the casing are two coin chutes I48 and 49 respectivelyeach of which terminates in the front wall of the casing at -the coinslots '48 and '49, whlle one of said chutes leads to a return deliverychute 50 terminating at51 (Figs.,1 and 7) in-a receptacle pocket or thelike into which one of thecoins; that is the coin inserted into thechute 48, is delivered at appropriate times. The other coin chute 49leads to a container (not shown) located Within the interior of thecasing, Towards the lower end of the coinchute 48 is slidably mounted apin or rod 52 extending transversely into the coin nhute so as to retaina coin passingthrough said chute, and this pin is connected to one. endof the rod 47 which as previouslydei scribed'is connected to the pivotallever 46,

'so that when a ball passes through the return ball chutes 43.44 and 45,this lever will be operated to withdraw said pin 52 from the coin chute48 to allow the coi'n'to pass on and 'be delivered through thechute 50to the receptacle.

The rotatable shaft 37 has-fixed thereto on "the inner side of the frontwall; of the casing 15, a ratchet wheel 55, a disc 56, and

a brake disc 57. The ratchet wheel 56 (Fig.

8) has co-operating therewith a spring operated' pawl 58 located toprevent at all times rotation of the shaft 37 in one direction.

and the forward end, that is the leading end in the direction ofrotationindica'ted by the arrow is adapted to form a tooth with whichengages one end of a pivotal lever 59 mounted on.-a pivot 60. Theopposite end of the lever 59 is pivotally connected to a rod 61 thelower end of which is pivoted to a piv- Iotal counterbalanced lever 62rotating about a pivot carried by a bracket 63. One end of .the lever 62extends into the coin chute 49 (see Figures 6, 7 and 10) in such amanner that thecominserted into said chute depresses said lever androtates the same to a limitedextent about its axis but with-' outreleasing the coin. This movement oftial rotation of-the lever 59 andconsequently a depression of the rod 61, which causes a further partialrotation of the pivotal counterbalanced lever 62.

'Theodisc 56 has a portion of its periphery cut away toform aclrcumferentlal recess Mounted adjacent the pivotal lever 62 is aninclined stationary bracket 66 provided with an elongated verticallydisposed 3101:

through which the weighted end of the lever 62extends and in which itsis adapted to- Mounted slidably on this Inclined move. bracket is asliding member 67 the lower endof which is weighted andthis slidingmember is also providedwith a longitudinal slot through which the lever62 extends. The lengthv of the slot is such that when the lever 62 isgiven its initial rotary movement, said sliding member 67 remains-Stationary, the and of the slot-therein acting as a stop to limit therotary movement of the lever 62 and hence prevent the operatmg coin inthe chute 49 being released. \Vhen however the shaft 37 has been rotatedthrough a sufficient distance to bring the pin 64 into contact with theextension .65 of lever 59,- the downward movement {of the rod61-causes.further rotary movement to be imparted to the counterbalanced.-lever 62 and duringthis secondary movement thev sliding member 67 israised in its bracket,

and the coin in'the chute 49 is released and fall s downwardly into areceptacle herein before referred to provided for the coins. Extendinginto and through the coin chute 48 is one arm 70 of a weighted lever 70mounted to pivot about a pin 71 carried by a bracket 72. This lever 70is provided with three arms, one of which 7 0 extends into the coinchute 48 and carries an adjustable weight 7 3, the second arm 7O extendsdownwardly into close proximity to the lever 62, whilst the third armhas pivotally connected to the end thereof a shutter 74 mounted inguides at the base of the return ball chute 44, at the junction of thelatter with the chute 43 leading to the platform 32. The arm 70 of thelever 70 which extends into the coin chute 48 is normally above apivotal sector shaped member 75 supported on a pin 76, and this memberacts under its own weight to normally prevent more than a limitedrotation of the lever 70. 77 is a depending rod mounted on a pin 78 thelower end of which carries an extension 79 which, when said rod is swungin a vertical plane about its pivot 78 is adapted to contact with thesector shaped member 75 and move the same out of the path of the pivotalthreearmed lever 70. The depending rod77 is adapted to be so moved by apin 64 on a disc 56 which when the shaft 37 is rotated, moves said rodto the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10 thus disengaging themember'7 5 from the lever 7 0 and allowing the latter to be rotated afurther amount under the of the coin in the chute 48. The is suitablybent to clear the exten- 59. The dependmg arm weight pin 64 sion 65 ofthe lever 7 0 of the lever 70 normally extends into the path of movementof the lever 62 but when a coin is inserted into the coin chute 48 thelever is rotated about its pivot so that the arm 70 is moved outof thepath of the lever 62 at the same time raising the shutter 74 andallowing a ball in the bottom of the chute 44 to pass into the chute 45and onto the platform 32. On the coin being released by the lever 70, itfalls downwardly and is retained by the pin 52 as previously described,while the pivotal'lever 7 O, returns to its normal position. When theshaft has been rotated through a suflieient distance to allow thedepending rod 77 to return to the position shown in full lines in Fig.10, the sector shaped member 7 5 returns to its normal position. Theweighted lever 62 which has also been moved to a position to release thecoin in the chute 49 will also return to its normal position, and asthis lever is connected by the rod 61 to the lever 59, the latter will,engage the end of the cut away portion of the disc 56 as soon as theshaft 37 has been rotated through a complete revolution.

The apparatus is inoperative unless a coin is inserted into each of thechutes 48 and 49. For instance if a coin is placed in the slot 48 andnot in the slot 49, the coin will depress the arm 70 on to the sectorplate 75 and since the lever 59 will prevent rotation-of the shaft 37,the depending rod 77 cannot be operated to disengage the sector shapedmember 75 from the lever 70. If a coin is inserted into the chute 49 andnot in the coin chute 48, the shaft 37 will be released by the pawl butcannot be rotated since the pivotal three armed lever 70 is in aposition to prevent movement of the lever 62 and furthermore the shutter74 at the base of the return ball chute 44 cannot open to allow a ballto pass through the chute 45 onto the platform 32, so that even if theplatform 32 is raised, no ball will be delivered onto the playingsurface.

' Referring now to disc 57, this disc is also cut away over a portion ofits periphery, and the remaining portion is adapted to be engaged, whenthe shaft 37 is rotated, by one end of a pivotal lever 80 (see Fig. 10)which is under the control of a relatively powerful spring 81, and theperiphery of the disc 57 engages the end of the lever 80 and rotates thesame about its pivot against the tension of the 'spring,'so that toorapid rotation of the shaft 37 is prevented.

The whole mechanism is suitably enclosed in the casing 15 provided withsuitable doors to enable access to the mechanism to be obtained. Theshafts 27 by which the shutters 18 are operated to impel the ball overthe playing surface are provided with a lateral lug or pin (Fig. 10)which cooperate with stops 86 to limit the oscillatory motion thereof.

The playing field is provided with figures 87 which represent linesmenand with a figure 88 representing the referee. The figure 88 may bemounted to be rotated by suitable means by one or more of the shafts 27.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described theapparatus as applied to a miniature football game, the apparatus may beconstructed for other games such as hockey, cricket or like, suitablemodifications, being made in the operating mechanism.

I claim:' c

1. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, saidmachine being provided with a playing surface and means to project aball on to said surface, two separate coin chutes, a series of playingballs mounted in pile formation beneath said playing surface, arotatable shaft, a member beneath said pile of balls connected to saidshaft by link mechanism, so as .to raise the pile of balls and deliverthe uppermost ball on to the playing surface when said shaft is rotated,and means associated with said coin chutes whereby the rotatable shaftis'- released forv manual rotation on the passage of coins through saidchutes.

2. A coin operated machine for playing gamesby means of a ball, saidmachine being provided with. a playing surfaceiand.

means to project a ball on to said surface, two coin'chutes, meansassociated with said coin chutes "for releasing the mechanism fordelivering the ball onto the playing surface, means associated with oneof said coin chutes for retaining the coin therein until the ball hasbeen placed in a predetermined position, means for then releasing thecoin,

and means operated by the release of said coin for rendering. the wholemechanism inoperative.

3; A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a'ball, saidmachine .being provided with a playing surface and means to project aball on to said surface,

coin chutes for the reception of a plurality of coins, mechanismoperated by the passage of the coins through said chutes for releasingthe delivering mechanism for the ball,

means in said coin chutes for arresting the means to project a ball onto said surface,

two coin chutes, said ball projecting means being controlled by theinsertion of a com in each chute, a ball tube beneath said playingsurface, said tube having two slidable sides, a trigger carried by saidslidable sides, means for raising said sides, a platform beneath saidtube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surface to saidplatform, means for raising said platform, and operating means for firstraising the platform and subsequently raising the ball tube.

5. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, saidmachine being provided with a playing surface and means to project aball on to said surface, two coin chutes, said ball projecting meansbeing controlled by the insertion of a coin in each chute, a ball tubebeneath said playing surface, saidtube having two slidable sides, a

trigger carried by said slidable sides, a link for raising said sides, aplatform beneath said tube, a return ball chute leading from.

the playing surface to said platform, a rod for raising said platform,an operating shaft, and a crank pin associated with said shaft andengaging a. slot in said link and also engaging said fod;

61A 'coin operated machine-for playing games by means of a ball, saidmachine being provided with aplaying surface and means to project a ballon to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, a platformbeneath said'tube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surfaceto said platform, means for raising said plat! form, two coin chutes, ashutter in said return ballchute, an operating lever for said shutter, aretaining device for said lever, and

means associated with one coin chute for releasing said retainingdevice, said operating' lever projecting into the other coin chute so asto be moved by a coin therein after said retaining means has beenreleased.

7. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball,saidmaehine being provided with aa-playing surface and means to projecta ball on to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface,said tube having two slidable sides, a trigger carried by said slidablesides, a link for raising said sid.es,-a platform beneath said tube, areturn ball chute leading from the playing surface to said platform, arod for raisifilg said'platform, an operating shaft, a era pinassociated with said shaft and engaging a slot in said link and alsoengaging sai rod, two coin chutes, a shutter in said return ball chute,an operating lever for said shutter, a retaining device for said lever,a stop for said operating shaft, means associated with one coin chutefor releasing said stop, and. means associated with the operating shaftfor releasing said retaining device, said operating lever roj ectinginto the other com chute so as to be moved by a coin therein after saidretaining meanshas been released.

8. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, saidmachine being provided with a playing: surface and means to project aball on to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, a

'platfdrm beneath'said tube, a return ball chute leading from theplaying surface tosaid platform, means for raising said platform, anoperating shaft controlling said raising means, a stop for saidoperating shaft, a lever projecting into one coin chute and operable b acoin therein, said lever controlling sai stop, a stop for said lever,

and means associated with the other coin chute for releasing said leverstop to permit a further movement of said lever'to allow the coin topass it.

. GEORGE RICHARD BARR.

